Saleh Muslim, a prominent Syrian Kurdish leader and key figure in the struggle for Kurdish autonomy in Syria, died yesterday (11 March 2026) in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, after a prolonged illness, according to an announcement by his party.
A Lifelong Advocate for Kurdish Rights
Muslim served for years as co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the largest Kurdish political party in Syria. The PYD played a decisive role in establishing the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria—commonly known as Rojava—in the country’s northeast.
Context of Political Transition
Following intense clashes with Syrian government forces, Syrian Kurds signed an agreement in January under which their armed forces and civil administration would be gradually integrated into the Syrian state. This move comes as President Ahmed al-Shara appears determined to consolidate authority across the entire country.
In its statement, the PYD paid tribute to Muslim as a man who “dedicated his life to his people’s struggle and the defense of their legitimate rights.” He passed away in Erbil “after a long battle with illness,” the party said.
Friends and party members gathered outside the Erbil hospital upon hearing the news, according to a reporter from Agence France-Presse (AFP). His body will be transferred to Syria on Thursday for burial.
Roots in Resistance
Born in 1951 in Syria, Muslim hailed from Kobani—a city that became a symbol of Kurdish resistance after Kurdish fighters achieved a pivotal victory there against Islamic State militants in 2015.